Linda Shimer

Background

Linda Shimer was an Indianapolis woman convicted of arranging for Kenneth Kelly to kill Brett Dobbins, who was the husband of Nancy Dobbins and was gunned down outside his Hancock County home.

Shimer was one of Nancy Dobbins' best friends but had a bitter relationship with Brett Dobbins. Prosecutors described Shimer’s dislike of Brett Dobbins as developing into a “volcanic hatred.”

Shimer’s sentencing hearing in Hancock Superior Court involved testimony about her parenting and her home environment. Shimer admitted using marijuana and said she never used it when she thought her children or other teens might see her. She also said any teens who used alcohol or drugs in her house did so “behind my back and without my knowledge.” She showed “a twinge of regret” and said: “If I had it to do over again,” she said, “I would change a few things about the way my house was run.”

Shimer’s parents, husband, son and daughter took the stand on her behalf at the sentencing hearing, as did two longtime friends. Her husband, Gary Shimer, said: “I can’t believe the verdict” and “I do not believe she was involved in this at all.”

Nancy Dobbins attended Shimer’s sentencing hearing but did not speak. She declined to comment afterward.

A spokeswoman for the Dobbins family, Lezlie Filson, said: “As far as the family and friends of Brett Dobbins are concerned, justice will be done when Linda Shimer takes her last breath in prison.”

Shimer told the court that she planned to appeal the verdict. Amick appointed lawyer Bonnie Wooten to handle Shimer’s appeal.

The offence

Brett Dobbins was gunned down Aug. 10 outside his Hancock County home.

Prosecutors said Shimer offered a Cadillac to Kenneth Kelly, 19, in exchange for killing Dobbins. Prosecutors further said Shimer bought bullets for Kelly and later drove him past Dobbins’ house to show where he lived.

During Kelly’s testimony at Shimer’s trial, Kelly told jurors that early on Aug. 10 he fired two shots into Dobbins’ back as Dobbins was preparing to go to work at the Raytheon plant in Indianapolis.

Deputy Prosecutor Dan Nelson recalled statements Shimer made to Nancy Dobbins about hiring a cheap hit man to kill her husband. Nelson said: “She sees this person hanging around her house,” he said, referring to Kelly. “She knows he may not be the most sophisticated person. She knows about his likes and dislikes, and she dangles in front of him what he likes — ‘I can get you a Cadillac.’ ”

Shimer maintained her innocence during her sentencing hearing. She said: “I do feel a sense of responsibility for what these two kids did,” she said, referring to Kelly and Brundage. “Without my involvement, I believe this never would have happened. However, there was never any intent on my part for any of this to happen.”

Shimer added: “I hope the Dobbins family can find some healing and comfort.”

In her sentencing hearing remarks, Shimer also addressed the idea of her allowing teens to gather at her Indianapolis home. She defended her parenting style in response to prosecutors’ charges at trial that teens gathered there to drink alcohol and smoke marijuana.

Investigation

Police said they believe Kenneth Kelly was hired to kill Brett Dobbins.

Authorities used confidential informants to help investigators find the gun used in the shooting and link it to Kelly.

Hancock County authorities believed Shimer offered a Cadillac to Kenneth Kelly in exchange for killing Dobbins.

Prosecutors praised quick tracking down of the gun Kelly used to shoot Dobbins. The gun was found in a car owned by the girlfriend (now the wife) of one of Kelly’s cousins.

Hancock County Prosecutor Larry Gossett praised Hancock County Sheriff's Detectives Jeff Rasche and Kevin Haggard. Gossett said: “Detectives Jeff Rasche and Kevin Haggard. He said their quick work tracking down the gun Kelly used to shoot Dobbins might have made the difference in the investigation.”

Rasche said: “(And) I'm still very saddened for the Shimer family and everyone else that's involved.”

In an interview about the verdict, Rasche also said: The Dobbinses' 7-year-old son “will carry this with him for the rest of his life,” Rasche said.

Police said they had not made arrests in the case at the time Dobbins was first found.

Arrest

On Sep. 2, 2004, Linda Shimer was arrested. She was identified as a friend of Dobbins' wife. Police said Shimer faced murder and conspiracy charges. The Hancock County Sheriff’s Department did not say what role it believed Shimer played in the death.

On Tuesday night (as described around Sep. 2, 2004), the sheriff's department arrested Kelly's girlfriend, Jennifer Brundage, 18, of New Palestine, on charges of murder and conspiracy to commit murder in connection with the case. Police said they believe Kelly used Brundage's car to get to Dobbins' home.

At the time of Brundage’s arrest, investigators said they still were trying to determine the motive.

Kenneth Kelly was arrested in late August, and later pleaded guilty to murder.

Trial

A Hancock County jury convicted Linda Shimer of murder and conspiracy to commit murder in the death of her best friend's husband.

Shimer’s trial ended with a jury verdict after a weeklong trial. The seven women and five men deliberated for about 10 hours before returning their verdicts against Shimer.

The jury received the case just after 11 a.m. and reached its verdict about 9 p.m. Shimer showed little reaction to the verdicts and did not respond to a reporter’s request for comment as she left the courtroom.

Jurors deliberated with testimony that included Shimer’s interview with detectives after the killing. Juror Jennifer Chisler, 27, Greenfield, said one factor in her decision was Shimer's interview with detectives after the killing. Chisler said Shimer referred to the time of the shooting—about 5:30 a.m.—even though she said she was just learning of the death from detectives, and detectives testified they had not mentioned the time to Shimer.

Prosecutors described Shimer’s actions before the killing. In closing arguments, Gossett called Shimer “a very evil woman” who set the wheels of the conspiracy in motion. Gossett said: “a very evil woman” who set the wheels of the conspiracy in motion.

Gossett also said Shimer had a “festering hate” for Brett Dobbins.

Gossett said testimony showed that Shimer made the proposal to kill Dobbins, bought bullets for Kelly and even showed him where Dobbins lived. Gossett said: “It's as cold-blooded a murder as I think you have had,” he said. “This was a terrible crime, and it's a terrible crime that didn't need to happen.”

Shimer’s attorney, Randall Sorrell, declined to talk to a reporter after the verdicts were returned. Sorrell placed blame on Kelly and Brundage, who drove Kelly to Dobbins’ home on the day of the killing. Sorrell said: “They're killers and they're liars, and you can't trust them,” he had said of Kelly and Brundage.

In his closing arguments, Sorrell also suggested Kelly was delusional and might have invented the conspiracy after hearing Shimer and Nancy Dobbins talk about their dislike for Brett Dobbins. Referring to a suicide attempt by Kelly and Brundage, Sorrell said: “It's the guilty people who try to kill themselves. It's the innocent people who show up and fight for their freedom.”

Juror Alan Errichiello, 28, McCordsville, said he was convinced by witness testimony about Shimer buying bullets for Kelly and riding with him to the Dobbinses' residence so he would know how to get there. Errichiello said: “When I weighed both sides, I was convinced she was guilty,” he said.

Chisler said being a juror was emotionally draining. She kept thinking of Shimer's husband and family members she had seen in the courtroom, and said: “But we didn't put her in this position,” Chisler said. “We're just finishing it up and doing what the law instructs us to do.”

During the sentencing hearing, Shimer maintained her innocence. Shimer addressed her involvement and said “there was never any intent on my part for any of this to happen.”

One of Kelly’s visits to the house led to the plot to kill Dobbins, prosecutors said. Kelly told jurors that Shimer said she could get him a Cadillac—one that belonged to Brett Dobbins—after Kelly expressed a desire to own such a car. Kelly accepted the offer.

Prosecutors said Shimer bought bullets for Kelly and later drove him past Dobbins' house to show where he lived.

Shimer said: “If I knew the Kenny Kelly I know now, he would have never come into my house and never gotten near my children,” she said.

Sentencing

Shimer was sentenced in Hancock Superior Court on May 17, 2005.

Judge Larry Amick said Dobbins' death was particularly senseless and said: “There is no excuse, none whatsoever, for what happened in this case,” Amick said.

Shimer received a 55-year prison sentence.

In the sentencing hearing, Shimer maintained her innocence. She said she felt responsibility for Kelly and Brundage’s actions but stated she never intended for what happened to occur.

Judge Amick appointed lawyer Bonnie Wooten to handle Shimer’s appeal.

Appeals

Shimer said Tuesday that she planned to appeal the verdict, and Amick appointed lawyer Bonnie Wooten to handle her appeal.

Outcome

Shimer was convicted and sentenced to 55 years in prison.

Kenneth Kelly pleaded guilty to murder and was serving a 55-year sentence.

Jennifer Brundage pleaded guilty to assisting a criminal and was serving an eight-year sentence.

Aftermath

Brett Dobbins was survived by his wife, Nancy, and a 7-year-old son, Brandon.

Dobbins attended Shimer’s sentencing hearing but did not speak.

Lezlie Filson said the Dobbins family was satisfied but not happy with the sentence, and also stated:

Police described the case as a murder-for-hire scheme, and authorities alleged the offer was a vehicle or cash to kill Dobbins.

Jurors and court participants included family members, friends, prosecutors, detectives, and multiple jurors who commented on factors in reaching the verdict.

Timeline

Aug. 10, 2004 — Brett Dobbins was gunned down outside his Eden home; Nancy Dobbins called a dispatcher and officers arrived around 7:50 a.m.; Dobbins was pronounced dead at the scene. Late August 2004 — Kenneth Kelly was arrested. Aug. 10, 2004 (early) — Kenneth Kelly fired two shots into Dobbins’ back as Dobbins was preparing to go to work at the Raytheon plant in Indianapolis. September 2, 2004 — Investigators arrested Linda Shimer and later arrested Jennifer Brundage; investigators said they were still trying to determine the motive in the slaying. April 19, 2005 — A Hancock County jury convicted Linda Shimer of murder and conspiracy to commit murder; deliberations lasted about 10 hours after the jury was delivered just after 11 a.m., and the verdict was reached about 9 p.m. May 17, 2005 — Judge Larry Amick sentenced Linda Shimer to 55 years in prison. May 18, 2005 — A report described the sentencing outcome and included quotations from the sentencing hearing.

Other details

Shimer was described as being 55 at the time of conviction and 55 at sentencing, and was also described as 54 in some reporting surrounding arrest.

Brett Dobbins’ address was given as 2147 E. Eden Road.

Police described the location of the Eden home as about seven miles north of Greenfield and reported the Fortville-area reference when he was found.

Rashe said: “(And) I'm still very saddened for the Shimer family and everyone else that's involved.”